Is there a way to use the internet without Java?

It looks like at least the portable version of Windows 8 is dropping Java, like Apple did, partly because Java is a security vulnerability. I'm using NoScript and AdBlock Plus in sandboxed Firefox, but is there a way to run Windows 7 without Java and still have everything work when browsing?

 

I don't think I understand. Couldn't you simply... uninstall Java?

 

Java isn't required for anything other than Java content which accounts for what, 1% of websites?

 

I've gone for years without ever needing Java....

 

I probably had what Java does confused with what Flash does. I removed Java. I guess there's no way to do without Flash. Is that also a vulnerability?

 

Yes, flash is full of vulnerabilities. Using Chrome helps mitigate this. You can try running it with EMET as well or sandboxing it.

 

I thought that with ie10 ms is finally going to move away from flash

 

No. I think you've only read half of an article. IE10 has 2 faces: standard (like IE9) or metro (touch). Using metro will disable plugins, using standard allows plugins.

 

ah ok thanks @elapsed..

 

Lol yeah... dropping flash would be a bad idea.

 

HTML5 anyone? I hope HTML5 would be so awesome you won't need JAVA and Flash or any other plugins

 

Yes, but I believe the future of Silverlight is apps running on the OS not on websites (this is actually more secure on Win8 as metro apps are sandboxed/jailed to an extent). E.g. instead of requiring Silverlight to stream a movie on a website, have a downloadable Silverlight based app you can launch via the start screen.

 

You don't need to worry about Flash when using SBIE and NoScript.
Use NoScript to block Flash for all sites, excepting sites that you
go to that requires it, like YouTube, if you go there.

Bo

 

OK, thanks Bo. And I'll look into sandboxing Flash like Hungry Man suggested.

 

When you are running FF sandboxed, if Flash comes into play, IT IS
already sandboxed. No need to do anything else.

Bo

 

It's really important to understand and differentiate that when people mention "Java" they could be talking about 2 different things:

1. The application "Java", formerly by Sun Microsystems, now Oracle. Often used for online gaming, among other things. Denoted by the symbol of a coffee mug with steam rising out of it.

2. Javascript, which is what people are usually talking about when mentioning Java. Scripts necessary for functionality on most web sites, for example logging in, or clicking on buttons/links.

Many people interchange the two. I used to get confused with it myself years ago. The former, most people don't need. The latter, pretty much everybody does in some form, and is what people use NoScript to manage.

 

Well... I think it's important to note that they are entirely separate languages.

Java is to Javascript as Car is to Carpet

 

Yeah, entirely separate. I just felt compelled to point it out here because it seemed justenough may not have been making this distinction. I could be wrong though.

 

Yeah, fair point. Easy to misunderstand that the two are very separate.

 

I use the Firefox QuickJava extension to quickly turn Java in Firefox on or off.

 

I know 2 ways to have JAVA on your system but not for browsing internet.


1. Install JAVA on your system then make a sandbox with block access to JAVA folders/files then RUN your browser there.


2. Install JAVA from a separate Sandbox and another sandbox for your browser.

 

NoScript is not only used to block Javascript, you can also block Java,
Flash, Silverlight and other plugins.
I use it to handle Flash and JS as I don't use Java or any other plugins.

Bo

 

I wasn't even clear on the distinction between Java and Flash when starting this thread, much less Java and Javascript, so thanks for explaining that.

If I've understood, uninstalling Java and using Sandboxied Firefox with NoScript should be pretty safe. Also, I try to go to and download from only reliable sites.

 

I agree there appear to be more sites that use flash-based content than java. There are exceptions to the rule though, and sometimes I wonder why the owners of those sites don't make changes. Perhaps they can't for technical reasons? However, if others can do it, they should be able to.

For example, thinkbroadband.com has a speed tester that requires java to run. Yet speedtest.net uses flash.

 

If you want to use a free alternative to Office as well, Java is still needed.